Wading in a Winter Waterpark

Yes, it is December...but we (the whole extended family) went to an indoor waterpark. Let me tell you...a waterpark in the winter is a BLAST! We had such a great time.

Daddy and I took the boys to the kiddie pool. It had a big pirate ship in the middle of the pool with slides and tunnels. Nathan walked right into the water without a care in the world. He is such a water baby. Kenny is much more cautious about trying out anything water. I was worried he was going to sit out the entire time. He warmed up really fast once he saw Nathan on the little kiddie slides. We left the boys with their aunt and uncle and spent some time going tandem down the tube slides. We figured out we went faster with me in front and my hubby in back. Then we went and got the boys and took them down the lazy river. They had little innertubes with a net inside the hole . When Nathan sat in it, all you could see was the top of his head and his little eyes. It was out of this world adorable! Kenny had a blast floating down the river and riding the waves.

After lunch Daddy spent 30 minutes combing the place for a special two seater innertube where the front hole had a net for little guys. I have to admit, I thought he was a little crazy for trying so hard to find something that was going to terrify Kenny into never going in water again..but I was very wrong. I am so grateful he was persistent because going down the big grown-up slides became the thrill of a lifetime for little Kenny. Daddy was so smart and told him the tube was like a train that was going in a tunnel. Everytime they went down the slide, Kenny would give the tube a different train name. He got everyone to take turns going down. I went with him three times and loved hearing him squeal with total delight!

Nathan played in the kiddie pool. He started getting cold and really tired so we all took turns in the hot tub with him. It wasn't a traditional hot tub...it was a pool heated to the temperature of bath water. He loved splashing in the hot water or just relaxing in your lap watching all the people.

I think I prefer waterparks in the winter to waterparks in the summer.

Hmm...I never thought of that.

I have a fun post about our latest family outing...but the pictures are not downloading to the computer, so I'll do it when I get that little glitch fixed. Anyway, my husband found this list on the internet. I thought it was really funny. I included some of my favorites.

Why or True Things Which Do Not Make Sense

Why is it that people say they “slept like a baby” when babies wake up every two hours?

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are flat?

Why do banks charge a fee on “insufficient funds” when they know there is not enough?

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Why doesn’t Tarzan have a beard?

Why does Superman stop bullets with his chest, but ducks when you throw a revolver at him?

Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

Whose idea was it to put an “S” in the word “lisp”?

If the temperature is zero outside today and it’s going to be twice as cold tomorrow, how cold will it be?

How is it that we put a man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

Did you ever stop and wonder……

Why do toasters always have a setting so high that could burn the toast to a horrible crisp, which no decent human being would eat?

Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer?

Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours? They’re both dogs !

If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables,
then what is baby oil made from ?

If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons ?

Why do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?

Stop singing and read on . . .

Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog’s face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?

Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive faster?

(Found at rankyspanky.com)

I'm A Big Kid Now!

Nathan took one of the big steps from babyhood to toddlerville. He is now sleeping in a big boy bed. Now we can pack up the bulky crib until the next go 'round. The first night in his bed was interesting. We put him down, and within a few minutes the door opened. We heard this little excited giggle and Nathan appeared in the doorway- blanket in tow with his little belly sticking out of his jammies and the biggest grin behind his binkie. So adorable. We put him back to bed and within 5 minutes we hear, "Mama, Daddy...Nathan is out of bed." We told Kenny to just let Nathan explore his new freedom and to stay in bed and be a good example. Being the excellent listener that he is, we spent the next hour telling Kenny to go back to bed and leave Nathan alone and putting Nathan back in his bed.

Finally, at about 10:00 I checked in on them and was greeted by two angelic little faces-fast asleep-each in his bed.

My babies are growing up...sigh.

A Very Thomas Christmas Part 2

In continuation of yesterday's post...we went over to Eppie and Papa's house to meet the rest of my family for more gift exchanging. Nathan was already very over-stimulated and we thought for sure he would totally melt down, but he did great! Thomas the Train continued to be ever present. Kenny received another Thomas movie, a Molly train, Cranky the Crane, an oil car, and a movie car. He was very excited. Nathan got a Mater truck that talks and rolls away whenever you move him. He had a great time chasing that truck.

There was also a John Deere theme going on as well. All the men in the fam got John Deere shirts and Nathan got a John Deere tractor with an animal cart. The animals make sounds when you put them on the cart. He loved this toy and played with it a long time.

As per tradition, Papa gave all us adult kids our self-help book of the year. We got "Crucial Conversations"- complete with cd's and a printed power point guide. The really funny thing this year is that the books had all been opened and loaned out to ward members throughout the year. I have read about half the material and it is really good. We also received our annual gift card to Chili's for a date with our significant others. Last year the gift card was attached to a jar of salsa. This year the cards were attached to a bag of the best chips EVER- Sun Chips Garden Salsa. It has been a few days and I can say there are not many chips left. They are sooo good!

My husband and I will be enjoying our dinner at Chili's before we attend the musical "Wicked" that my parents are so graciously sending us to and babysitting for us! I have wanted to see that show for a long time but the tickets were always so expensive. We are really excited to have the opportunity to go now!

My husband also surprised me with another outfit. He had me convinced he hadn't gotten me anything, so I was surprised when I got the outfit earlier in the morning. I was blown away when he gave me another outfit. He got a gorgeous rose colored blouse, a gray skirt, and knee high black leather boots! I have never worn shoes like these boots, but I love them! They are so fashionable and very comfortable.

The boys got a Cars pop-up tent and had a good time climbing in and out of it. My mother also made a Proclamation to the Family picture for each of the kids. It's in a brown frame and has various pictures of Christ as the mat. It is so beautiful.

We spent the rest of the day snacking, napping, and playing Phase 10 (David won). It was a wonderful Christmas Day.

More pictures...

The actual gift was fishing poles


David gave them a date- literally (Jan 15th)

A Very Thomas Christmas Part 1

(Click on the pictures to make them larger.) Okay, so I decided to do Christmas in two days. On Christmas Eve, we spent the morning at church where the choir presented a musical program for sacrament meeting. As choir director, I was a nervous wreak all morning. But angels truly sang with us. The music was beautiful and really brought the spirit of the season into our hearts. We all met at Eppie and Papa's house at 5:30 for dinner. We had turkey, mashed taters, green bean casserole, stuffing, and rolls. I invited a friend of mine and her family and they brought orange rolls and the best clam chowder I have ever had! After gorging ourselves with food, we sat around talking and being the usual sarcastic bunch we are. My friend has two little girls about the same age as my boys, so they had a great time running around chasing each other. Nathan was a little apprehensive of all the aunts and uncles, but he warmed up by the end of the evening. After we went home, we read "Twas' The Night Before Christmas" and Kenny very carefully got out the cookies and eggnog for Santa. When he went to bed, he was asleep within a few minutes.

Finally, Christmas morning was here! I put a baby gate at the top of the stairs before going to bed and it was a good thing I did! When Kenny came in to wake us up the first thing he said was "The stairs are blocked and I couldn't get down!" Daddy went down first to take pictures and then we released the gate.

Santa brought Kenny a Thomas bike! He also had a stocking with a helicopter, bubble gum, M&M candy cane, Thomas fruit snacks, a book, and a Thomas plastic shaving kit- complete with foam and a brush.

Nathan got a Thomas scooter thing, a book, a microphone, candy, Thomas fruit snacks, and a set of metal baby keys. Being the cruel parents that we are, we made the kiddos eat before they could open any other presents.

In keeping with the Thomas theme this year, Kenny received a 102 piece Thomas the Train Lego set, Thomas sheets, and a Thomas movie. Nathan got a toy broom, a Sesame Street vacuum cleaner, and a big Magna-Doodle. Daddy got a movie, some pants and a shirt, a flight simulator for the computer, and a pair of black shoes. I got some clothes, shoes, and a few movies. We had a great morning together for our first Christmas in our house. The boys were so excited. I loved to see their faces light up as they open each gift. I also had a good time watching Daddy open his gifts. I love shopping for presents and watching how excited people get when they open them. It was of the best feelings in the world. Later, we went over to Eppie and Papa's for more gift exchanging. I'll write about that tomorrow. But I will add a few more pictures.

Even Piper had a great time!

Merry Christmas!

I was reading the story of Christ's birth to the boys from Luke yesterday afternoon and I was struck by the powerful words of those scriptures. It got me thinking- we live in a world obsessed with things. Though none of use like to admit it, we judge others based on their clothes, cars, houses, jobs, etc. We also spend time and energy thinking about other people's perception of our lives. Christ did not live in a posh neighborhood, with a fancy car, and a closet full of clothes. Christ was born in a barn with a feed box for a crib. He came into this world under the lowliest of circumstances. He lived his life as a carpenter by the strength of his hands. He walked the dusty roads of Israel spreading the joy and peace of our Heavenly Fathers message. He was not a rich man, he did not have an important high power job, or a fancy home. And he was our Savior. It makes me put my life into perspective and realize the many blessing I have in my life.

I am so grateful for my husband. I am blessed to have a loving and caring partner who would walk to the end of the earth for me. He is a wonderful and devoted father. He is working so hard to care for our family. I am proud of the amazing things he has done in school. He is truly making his dreams come true and I admire him for that.

I am grateful for Kenny and Nathan. They are the sunshine of my life. I cherish every minute I have with them.

I am grateful for my job. If I can't be at home with my kids, the classroom is the only other place I would like to be. I am grateful for my co-workers who have inspired me to strive for more.

I am grateful for our home. I have noticed such a change in my children since we bought the house. It may not be fancy, but I love it, and all the memories we will share here.

I am also grateful to have the gospel in my life. My family would not be where we are today if it had not been for loving and faithful parents who raised my husband and I in gospel centered homes. I am grateful for my knowledge of the Savior and his sacrifice for all mankind. I am grateful for our living prophet who leads and guides us today.

Merry Christmas!

Festival of Lights

Christmas lights are one of the most soothing and exciting sites of all time. You can't help but feel festive looking at lighted houses and beautiful displays. We recently had the opportunity to attend the Festival of Lights. We saw light displays of everything imaginable. We strolled through the different displays listening to Christmas music and trying to keep Kenny from running too far ahead. There was a vendor selling Kettle Corn. It was sooo good! Just the right amount of salty and sweet. You could watch them make it right in front of you in the big cast iron kettles. Before the light display, we went and looked at the helicopter fleets at the nearby airfield. Grandmama was here, so Daddy showed her all the different companies he could fly for and the different types of aircraft. It was neat to see what the future holds in about a year. After the airfield, we went to dinner. This restaurant has the most amazing food! We had a wonderful time and really felt the Christmas spirit.
(The picture on the right is Kenny in the blue jacket)


On a side note, Kenny has been such a good boy the last few days. I think the fear of Santa being disappointed has done wonders for him. Anyway, a few days ago I got a cataloge from the Smith and Thompson company filled with Thomas the Train things. Yesterday, I gave it to him to look at, but told him he had to sit on m,y bed with it so it wouldn't get torn up. He spent over and hour pouring over his "Thomas magazine." Okay, last night, I went grocery store after the kiddos went to sleep and when I came home I peeked in on them. I saw Kenny sitting on the floor by his night light looking at a picture of Thomas. He was so cute! I asked him if he would like to look at the Thomas magazine, and he said, "Sure I would like that thing." So I gave it to him and told him not to wake his brother up. I then showed him an "I Love You" in sign language and he did it back. He said, "Mama, this means I love you and I really do love you. And Daddy too." Talk about melt your heart. You know, he sure is a precocious little guy, but he has the sweetest heart.

On another side note, when Daddy was leaving for work today, Nathan sat down and watched him gel his hair. When he was done, Nathan said (while waving), "Bye Bye. I love you." It was so sweet. Daddy's heart just melted. He is still learning to talk, so everything he says is very soft and high pitched and has the muttled baby quality to it. I wish I could just freeze him at this age and keep him here forever.

On yet another side note, I think I have used up half a sugar cane forest with my holiday baking this year. I added it up- between cookies, rolls, chocolates, etc. I have used 12 1/2 cups of sugar. And that does not count the pre-sugared candies and dipping chocolate. I did a little research, and that calculates to about 9625 calories. No wonder my pants are getting tight?

Musings about Christmas

I woke up at 6:00 this morning, got dressed, and headed out to JCPenney's to get a final gift for my hubby. The crazy part is how full the parking lot was at 6:30am. Now, under normal circumstances, shopping at the mall at 6:30 in the morning would have made me grumpy and annoyed. But it is the magical season of Christmas. Christmas changes everything.

Yesterday I woke up at 7:15. Ken was flying all morning and then went to work till 9:00 at night so I was alone all day. I did the dishes, swept and mopped the kitchen, washed and folded three loads of laundry, made chocolates and hand-dipped pretzel sticks, fed everyone lunch, had a playdate for the boys (and myself), made gingerbread cookies, cooked a roast for dinner, had a friend and her kids over for dinner, made a batch of orange rolls, put the kids to bed, and then spent 2 hours making up goody plates and wrapping them in basket wrap. Now, ordinarily a day like this would have left me frazzled and exhausted by the end of the night. Yet I spent the day singing carols and went to bed happy. I love the way this season brings out the best in people. I know we always here about keeping the Christmas spirit all year long, but I have never pondered on it until today. My family would be so much happier if we keep the joy of this season with us all the time. Stressful days would melt away, people would smile cheerfully, and stores would always have great sales!

Christmas the Prequel

Grandmama was in town earlier this week, so we had a little Christmas celebration a week early. The boys had a wonderful time. Nathan has caught onto the marvel of ripping open a present. Kenny, of course, was a great example of proper tear-open-as-quickly-as-possible present opening technique. Kenny got an art set that has markers, oil pastels, crayons, colored pencils, and watercolors. (As was mentioned in yesterday's post, he has put the kit to good use.) Kenny loves art and is very good at drawing. He will spend an hour at preschool working on a project that most kids finish in 20 minutes. He is very meticulous about coloring in the lines and proper color choice. His fine motor skills have come a long way since he started preschool.


The boys also received book/truck toys form their Aunt Allyson. These things are so cool! The pages of the board book are shaped like a vehicle and there is a flap on the front that closes to hold the pages together. Add some wheels on the bottom and you have got a toy truck to push around, then open up and read a story! Kenny got a school bus (which is perfect because he loves buses.) Nathan got an ice cream truck that has a button that plays a song. They have had the best time pushing these little trucks around and Kenny really likes the story about the bunnies going to school.


The boys also got a lot of books from Grandmama, Mergz and Spencer. One of the favorites is a book called "Happy Helicopters". It is about 6 little helicopters and what they do to help other people. Nathan is a HUGE fan of the "Silent Night" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem" books. They light and sing when you open the cover. Reading to her grandchildren is one of Grandmama's favorite things to do, so we were grateful she got the opportunity to read all the new stories.


Mommy and Daddy got a nice cookbook from Elisa. It is the Lion House Christmas edition. Elisa put a sticky note on one of the recipes for a spinach salad. The note said, "This is the best salad and dressing ever. Use E-Coli free spinach for best results." Very appropriate given the latest scare in the produce world.

Overall, we had a wonderful time with Grandmama. We were sad her visit only lasted a few days, but we are so grateful we had to opportunity to share this special time of year with her.

The Delicate Art of Gingerbread Houses

Seriously, have you tried to make one of these?
First, you must make sure the frosting is stiff enough to be glue.
Then you have to strategically place the frosting glue just right so the cookie part of the house will stand up straight. This may not be hard in and of itself, but the house must also be strong enough to withstand the weight of candy and the preschool fingers that push the candy into the house. Thankfully, Daddy did the assembling work. He is much better at this sort of thing. I'm too clumsy. Overall, our gingerbread house making experience was a great success! And for those of you who will be spending Christmas in Texas, you get to eat it!


On a side note, Nathan learned how to use a doorknob today. He has been working on it for a few weeks, but this afternoon he finally got the grab and twist action down. He is growing up way too fast! He copies everything his brother does (good and bad). I asked Kenny to clean his room and afterwards I said, "Alright buddy. Good job on the room. Give me five!" Nathan bee-lined it over to me, held up his hand, and said, "good job." He will not be left out.

On another side note, Kenny decided that Piper needed to have fur that matched the color of her collar. So he took his new marker (thanks Mergz and Spen) and colored Piper purple. I asked why he colored her and he said, "She needs to be decorated for Christmas." He was so innocent about it, I couldn't get mad.

A Day At The Beach

We went with Grandmama to the beach this last weekend . Yes, it is December, but the temperature has been annoyingly warm. The water was beautiful. The waves were crashing and making that wonderful calming sound. The breeze was light but noticeable- bringing in that refreshing outdoor smell.
We walked along the beach splashing in the waves. It was not until after Nathan was wet up to his knees that I realized I should take off his shoes and socks. True to form, the pants-hating little tyke took no time at all relieving himself of his burden.



We had a great time and Kenny collected about a hundred shells. He kept saying "I have work to do," as he combed the sand for acceptable shells.

Jumping into the New Millinium

Okay, so I am 6 years late embracing the technology wonders the new millinium has brought, but teachers are notorious for being slow to tackle new technology. But, I have decided to give this web log thing a try. For those of you fortunate enough to have to endure my new techno-experiment I ask you to bear with me. I cannot promise that it will be any good, but given the life I lead, I can promise a few laughs. So, here's to blogging- Cheers!